First, it is the Sabbath, the day we usually worship our God. The angels, shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph all had one thing in common. They came to worship and adore the newborn king, Jesus, the son of God! He is the reason for the season. I want to be doing
what they did on this awesome Christmas morning.

Second, I want the world to see that the worship and praise of Jesus is the center of my Christmas. I love my family and being with them around the tree. Yet I love Jesus more! And I want to worship with them and lead them to kneel at the feet of Jesus on his birthday. And I want to witness to my neighbors by my presence that he is my Lord and King.

Third, I know that the services at my church and churches everywhere will be extra special because of the day. Choirs, pastors and servants have been practicing, preparing and praying diligently about this special day and I want to honor their effort and commitment.  I encourage parents to be casual that day. Let the children come in their play clothes or PJ’s. Let them bring one gift they received for show and tell with friends and family.

Even if you are out-of-town,  go and worship Jesus that day with other believers and seekers. Be a wise man, a humble shepherd or like Mary and just absorb God’s grace and wonder that day. May the blessings and joy of our Lord and Savior fill your days, especially on HIS BIRTHDAY! Glory to God in the highest, and in our homes and this world,  join me in praying for peace and goodwill for all people.

It is old news that people resist change and this is true for all ages. We do not like folks to change the times of meetings, shift the furniture or alter the color of paint in our hallways. We opt for continuity yet evidence shows we thrive on change. The world only knew rule by monarchy until the American Revolution – then change led to democracy and freedoms we now cherish. My wife and I recently changed communities and homes. The changes were stressful and emotional – yet we love the change and are thriving in them. A friend’s church recently changed their long practiced Christmas Drama – the change led to new energy, more volunteers and large crowds. They are celebrating this key change.

We have made many changes at the church that I lead. Probably more change than most churches make in their first year, what we call the “honeymoon” period between pastor and people. A leader told me Sunday our people are now anticipating and look forward to the changes because we can see the value and the results in changed lives, better communications and more positive outlooks. I am convinced that we would all be better off in our health, our churches, our relationships, our nation and our community when we look forward to change and see it as normal, good and a part of life.

I’m just thankful I have not had to change a diaper in about 19 years. God is good!

This will be our first Thanksgiving without our daughter. She and her husband now live in Missouri where he is in officer training with the US Army. I don’t like it yet I am happy that she is happy and has made new friends there to share a feast with. Change is hard and can be good.  I am sure the pilgrims were happy to have any meat and bread on their table. The first year in America had been difficult and they were scratching out an existence. By the second year, life and crops were better and they had a humble feast.

In worship this time of year, we sing “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.” That’s a good way to come to our tables this week, thankful for what the Lord has provided. A thankful heart gives way to acts of thankfulness. I recently read of a man who took cangoods to the local Food Bank as an active way of showing his thankfulness. He said it was not enough for him to just say thanks. He had to live it in a real and tangible way. Will we say thanks this week for our blessings? And will we take the next step and act on that gratitude in concrete ways?

This past Sunday it was obvious that we had IT on the hill. That is, here at Sugar Hill United Methodist Church, the church located on the highest point in the metropolis of Sugar Hill, a small suburb of Atlanta close to Lake Lanier. Enough geography – the bottom line is that the fellowship, worship and hospitality was IT this past Sunday. The music connected with our hearts, the sound was good & balanced, the choir was confident & the folks said the message was sincere and right on with the needs and hopes they are wrestling with. The key factor is that the presence of the Holy Spirit, the living God who created all things and is the source of all life, was real and tangible to the worshipers.

This is what IT is all about. So how do you keep IT? We liked IT, folks are excited about IT and we want to stay connected with IT. Again, Craig does not explain how to keep IT.  His book and our discussions keep pointing to these factors to obtain IT and keep IT:   a core group of praying believers who expect the Spirit to show up and move mightily, a focus on addressing hurts and hopes in the community, an openness to change, doing a few things well, not getting too comfortable and listening to the Spirit and the voice of God speaking through the body of believers.

I do not believe you find IT. I am convinced IT comes to us when we seek IT, expect IT and are open to where IT wants us to go and who IT wants us to be. IT flows from the very heart of the God who loves us and has a kingdom purpose for every church and every follower of Jesus. I am glad IT comes not on my schedule. IT comes on the divine timetable of the holy one who loves us and gives us new life.

Life is like that. We buy into our culture’s mantra of “stuff brings happiness.” The truth is stuff brings debt, more responsibilities and the anxiety to maintain and keep up with it! Stuff leads to worry and misplacement of trust and loyalties. Paul wrote from a prison cell in Rome that he had discovered the secret of contentment. (Philippians 4: 11-12) He tells us that contentment is found in our relationships with Christ, our family and our friends. Jesus said that contentment is found in two loves – our love for God and our neighbor. No stuff required there.

So I think I will go out and do something to build contentment. I’m going out in the yard to play with that old metal detector and I’ll take one of my family members along. Of course, that means any treasure we find I’ll have to share. And I’m content with that!

Their church sent over two pastors and assisted them in the planning of the funeral. I attended the service and was deeply blessed by the church’s outpouring of compassion, love and concern. I believe that a church is at its best when we are walking alongside one another in times of pain, loss, questions and doubt. Inspiring worship and great music is good but it cannot take the place of personal contacts, having a relationship with a pastor and having fellow disciples to learn from and be held up by their prayers and presence.

At the end of last week, as I reflected on the response of these two churches, I found myself very glad to be a part of a faith community that seeks to know, care for, lift up, and teach one another as the body of Christ. Next time you are tempted to give up your local church and go get lost in one of the mega-churches, remember that one day you will need a personal touch. Stick with your local church and work alongside your fellow believers to make it a place of faith, love, and Christ-like actions for those in your area hungry for hope and healing in this broken world.

Spencer recalled that he had a revelation that day in the cafeteria. He turned to his family and said,  “We don’t have time to argue over ice cream flavors.”  Sometimes life demands a serious and focused perspective. We live in a world where people are dying for their faith and others are dying spiritually because they do not have a meaningful faith. Jesus sent his followers out into the world to bring hope and new life to a dying world. Our mission is no different today.

This morning I received a note from a member of my church. She was upset about the choice of hymns used to open the worship service. A man in the church lamented that we did not have a Bible out on the altar table. (I guess he did not see that the worship leaders were holding it to read and teach from!) Another person said the lights were not bright enough during the sermon. It amazes me that church folk get so concerned about the “flavors” of the worship service and miss the calling of Christ to the higher things of His kingdom.

Folks, we do not have time to “argue about the flavors of the ice cream.” We live in a world of hurting people, where children need mentors and where the hungry of soul and body need food. Will we get around to feeding them or will we waste our energies on the flavors of the ice cream offered in the name of Christ?

Yet I know its time to move forward and refuse to live in the shadow of an event created by evil people and terrorists who detest freedom and the way of life we cherish here in America. Its time to stand up and say we will not live in fear, dread or anger. Its time to pick up all the loose pieces in our nation and community and be one nation united by love of freedom and reclaim that we truly trust in God. Its time to walk forward and not look back – to imagine and work for peace on earth, to find ways to dialogue with people with whom we disagree and bring opportunity to the masses who feel trapped in poverty, tyranny or that they are forgotten.

It’s time to take all this emotion and apply this energy as a nation to serving others. The one common denominator for the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones and yet thrived in the midst of this struggle is their desire to help others and find places to serve based on what they learned through this tragedy. Let there be a new beginning and let us find it through selfless service in our communities and everywhere God sends us or causes a need to fill our hearts and minds.

I like the bright glow of the lights that arise where the World Trade Towers once stood. I pray that we reflect this positive light as we move out of the shadows of 9/11 and into the bright future God has in mind for all nations, including our own. Let your light so shine before others that they will see your good deeds and give glory and praise to God above.

Prayer is tough and serious business. It is all about an honest and open relationship with our Heavenly Father. The BIble instructs us to pray about everything. So I usually do. Recently on my first day of fishing in Alaska I was not catching any salmon. So I prayed for success on the river! And God answered my prayer. It felt good to pray even about this trivial matter and I imagine that God enjoyed the conversation!

How do you pray when life is tough and answers are few? How do you pray when you do not even seem to have the words or the thoughts to sum up your struggles and disappointments? How does one pray for a life mate, a new job,  success in business or for our children? I find that following the examples of faithful people in the scriptures is helpful. Try looking at Jabez’s prayer in I Chronicles 4 or Joshua’s prayer in chapter 7 of his book; look at Jesus’s prayer for the church in Luke 11 and James’ prayer in his letter, chapter 5.

I find it helpful to learn from the prayers of the saints. Listen to a seasoned disciple when they pray. Ask them what makes prayer effective for them. And most of all, just do it! Prayer is all about relationship and this takes time, listening, patience and perseverance. From my perspective, prayer is so worth it. I think I’ll stop this blog and just talk with the Lord. He is listening and available. Give him a call!

I grew up thinking my family was normal and commonplace. Yet now I realize we were different, peculiar. Every family is in their own unique and usually beautiful way. Peter was telling the church they were to live differently than the people of their time. They were to be peculiar in love, devotion and worldview. They were love the unloved, forgive those who persecuted them and serve the least, the powerless and the stranger. They were to worship God passionately even if it drew criticism and ridicule. They were to give generously even in their poverty. They were to have confidence in an unseen presence that loved them and created them for a purpose greater than they could fully understand.

Because…God has demonstrated a peculiar love for us, his beloved children. How peculiar!